Police: Man with gun tried to enter House office

Capitol Police confronted a man allegedly found with a firearm attempting to enter the Cannon House Office Building on Wednesday.

The man, who police later identified as Ronald William Prestage, was stopped shortly after 9:20 a.m. as he was passing through the Cannon House Office rotunda during an administrative screening process. Police discovered Prestage was carrying a 9mm Ruger, according to USCP Officer Shennell Antrobus.

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Prestage, who is not a Capitol Hill employee, was escorted out of the building in handcuffs by two police officers. He is currently being processed at USCP headquarters.

Capitol Police shut down the Cannon entrance for a short period, but it has been reopened.

The Associated Press reports that Prestage is an executive with Prestage Farms, a North Carolina-based pork and poultry producer. He is also a member of the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees, the AP reports.

This is the second time in a week that Capitol Police responded to a report of a firearm at the Cannon House Office Building. On July 18, a press secretary for Rep. Tom Marino (R-Penn.) was arrested after he attempted to bring an unloaded 9mm handgun onto the premises. The staffer pleaded not guilty to a weapons charge Monday.